wantz



Sept. 6, 1932. J. B. WANTZ 1,876,437

X-RAY APPARATUS 7 Filed Jan. 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 \NVEHTOR JUUUS a. WANTZ A ORNEY Sept. 6, 1932. J. B. WANTZ 1,876,437

X-RAY APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

\NNENTOR JULlU5 B. WANTZ ATTORNE J. B. WANTZ X-RAY APPARATUS Sept. 6, 1932.

Filed Jan. 5. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEHTOK ouuufi B. WANTZ A OENEY Patented Sept. 6, 1932 warran I STATES PATENTT'TOFFICE JULIUS B. WANT'Z, or A1: PAR ILLI QIS, Assrsivon TO GENERAL nrncrnrc X-RAY CORPORATION, or CHICAGO, ILLINors'A CORPORATIQN on NEW YORK X-RAY APPARATUS Application filed January 5, 1928. Serial No. 244,592;

"The present invention has primarily to do with an X'-ray apparatus. It relates particularly to an auxiliary or ancillary appa ratus or 'control device whereby it is possible to convert the conventional X-ray apparatus into an instrumentality which'may be instantly changed from capacity for radiographic work to adaptabilityfor fluoroscop'ic work, and vice versa. v Included in the objects of the'invention, are the following: f

A device to be attached to and made apart of the conventional X-ray apparatus where-j by the apparatus is adapted to take radiographic'pictures or examination An instrumentality'to be madea part of the usual X-ray apparatus whereby such apparatus is converted into a device capable of maintaining one setting "for radiographic work and another setting for fluoroscopicexaminations, the settings for each being adjustable, but the adjust-ment'of one havQ the ing no effect upon the adjustment of other;

The combination with paratus of switch means and a control therefor whereby such apparatus is converted into" a device for making fluoroscopic examinations without the adjustment of the radiographic settings ,suchdevice being capableof instant reconversion into an apparatus for taking radiographic pictures; o i

Means for converting an X-ray equipment arranged for radiographic exposures into. an

apparatusfor fluoroscopic examination, such means permitting of separate and inde pendent adjustments with respect to '-pho-, 'tography and l'iuoroscopy; and 1 V A new article of manufacture comprising switch means and controlmembers thereforv formed into a unit and adapted to be made a part of or attached to a conventional X ray circuit whereby such circuit. instantly becomes convertible froma radiographic appas' ratus :to one for fluoroscopic examination; or

warclly'from the lower casing.

vice versa.

These, and such othe-robjects as may'here to be used for fluoroscopic a radiographic 'ap and in such drawings, one'of which is sche- Y matic or dlagrammatic, the conventional cir- V cuit for a radiographic apparatus havingin assoclation therewith an automatic timer of convent onal design and a circu t breaker is" v shown.

In the drawings:

Figure '1' is an assembly of the stand, a conventional foot switch, and a hand switch used in the invention,"the elements being in part in section and in part in elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan view ot'foot switches in the control stand ofthe' apparatus;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the auto-trans former control and adjacent parts within the control stand; ,7 V V Figure '41, is a section through a portion of the. casing and showing the filament current control forming a part of the stand in elevation; and

'Figure 5 is a schematic apparatus and the circuits employed therewith.'

to, be actuated by an operators foot, as is shown at the baseof Figurel and in Figure 2. The auxiliary filainentcontrol and the auxiliary auto transformer are disposed i'n'a casprojecting uping at theto'p ofapedestal The entire apparatus is-portable' in its nature and is adapted to beshifted about a: laboratory or Xsray examination room sothat 1 control 7 diagram of the i control handle G.

said auto transformer.

it may be placed in the most convenient location that the objects in view may be accomplished.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawings and in the description of the invention which follows.

Reference should now be had to Figure 1. The stand hereinabove referred to comprises a base A which is a housing for the switches adapted to bring the auxiliary autotransformer 41 and the auxiliary filament current regulator 42 into play. These switches are further illustrated in Figures 2 and 5.

Upwardly extending from base A is a standard B at the top of which is a housing C in which is disposed an auxiliary auto transformer- 1), of conventional design and corn. trolled by rotatable handle E, and filament current transformer control member F also of conventional. design and regulated by the Figure 3 is a plan view of'the contact board H and of the control. handle and adjacent parts used in housing (1 and covering a part of the structure of auto transformer D, leaving exposed contacts I of Figure l further discloses the structure of the filament transformercontrol member F.

All of these parts and members except the housings and pedestal will be found in and readily recognized in Figure 5.

In said figure a c'onx' entional wiring system for an X-ray apparatus for a tube of the hot cathode type is disclosed except in so far as that system is modified to accommodate the present invention. I The invention, of course, may be adapted for use with. lgastubes with certain changes.

In sucha wiring system as is disclosed in Figure 5, conduits (see lower right hand.

corner) from an alternating current power line are connected to a main auto transformer 12, which. main auto transformer may be disposed in a main control stand, not shown but of any conventional design, where handles or other means are provided for its operation and adjustment. Control stands are common in the art and gen erally include switches, auto transformer fuses, and other equipment, such forexample as transformers, all within a vertical container, and having operating handle.

, high voltage transformer 31..

conveniently located with respect thereto.

.From the main auto transformer 12, con-- duits are arranged run to the primary of a The secondary of such high voltage transformer is adapted to be connected directly to a s: rectifying tube or to a rectifier where a self rectifying type of X-ray tube is not employed.

Usually, the alternating current line feeds to the main auto transformer a current at a voltage of 220 volts. In addition to such alternating current line, (see upper left hand corner of drawings), a separate alternating current line of 110 volts is connected to a filament current transformer, which latter apparatus is marked 32 in the drawings.

In circuit with such alternating current line and filament current transformer 32 is a filament current regulator 33, such as is conventional in the X-ray art. The secondary current from the filament current transformer 32, which is a step-down transformer, is used to heat the filament of the X-ray tube used in the apparatus. Other methods for controlling electron emission may be substituted for that described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The same alternating current line, (or another, preferably of 110 volts) is used for actuating a circuit breaker marked 34 in the drawings. In connection with such circuit breaker is an automatic timer, the device here disclosed being more or less conventional and comprising means for timing exposures when radiographic work is being carried on with the apparatus. Such timer is marked 35 in the drawings.

Such apparatus usually comprises a motor driven mechanism for carrying spaced electrical contacts which contacts, when brought together, provide circuits for selectively encrgizing the circuit breaker 34:. A solenoid for controlling a clutch whereby the power of the motor is made available for operating such contacts is a usual and customary part of the timer apparatus. Timer devices are common to the industry but a more complete description is here given.

As hereinabove indicated, there may be disposed in housing A, which may comprise any suitable box-like metallic or other desirable structure, a plurality of switches, indicated in the drawings, by the ordinals 1, 2, 3, 4,5, and 6. The normal position of the blade por tionsof each of these switches is up with respect to the circuits shown in the diagram. The switches 2 to 6 are normally in contact with the contacts shown above the switch blades. The structure of the blades, the contacts, the foot pedals, and the spring members employed therein are shown'clearly in Figures 1 and 2.

When it is desired to operate the device for radiographic exposures, the blades of switches 1 and 2 are pressed downwardly. This action disconnects the switch member 2 from the contact it normally engages and also provides for the impinging of the switch blades of switchesl and 2 upon the contacts shown beneath the blades of said switches.

The contacts are made in the order indicated in the drawings, that is, the circuit closed by switch 1 is established before the circuit including switch 2 is closed. The two switches are adapted to be actuated by a single foot pedal 36 mounted in the casing A. In the normal position of such pedal, the switchesl and 2 are up, and in depressed position, said switches are down.

7 through switch 4.

pedal '37. Movement of such other pedal provides an immediate disconnect with respect to switch 5 and 6, followedby a later disconnect of switches 3 and 4:.

New circuits are thereafter established through switches 5 and 6 in advance ofthe connection to be established through switch 3 bycontinued and furtherpressure upon the foot pedal 37 which controls'said switches 3, 4,5, and 6. No new circuit'is established In the timer 35 isa. terminal S which is electrically connected to the knife blade ofswitch 1; Said knife blade makes contact only when pressed downwardly. 'When' pressed downwardly, electrical connection from terminal S is established through said switch in a manner later indicated.

' Normally, the knife blade of switch 2' is in connection with the conduit connected to an- 7 other terminal 8 in the timer. When pressed downwardly, such connection is broken. After the circuit formed by the actuation of switch 1 has been established, a second circuit is established by further downward pressure of the pedal through switch 2 between said.

in the less modern time switches, the motor is put into operation only immediately anterior. to the time a radiographic exposure'is to be made. In the present apparatus, the circuitsin'thetimeswitch are arranged to provide for the continuous operation of the motor. In this manner, the device is kept in condition for instant use for timed radiograpl'is without any: nec ssityfo-r the operator leaving the position occupied by him for fluoroscopic examination. 7 the agency of the circuit breaker 3%,causes current to flow to the rectifier ortube, as the case may-be, through the main auto transformer and the hi voltage transformer whereby radiographic current, the voltage of which is determined by the settings of the main autotransformenjis impressed uponthe tube terminals. 7

It is toibenoted at this time that the switchi is also up so that the auxiliary filament current control is inoperative and likewise the switches 5 and 6 are up so that the auxiliary autotransformer likewise *is inoperative or out of circuit. V n r I F or the purpose of maintaining the sets Said timeswitch 35 through Stings desired for radiographic work and concurrently using the apparatus for fluoroscopic work, the utility'of the invention now becomes apparent. It has already been stated that a second foot pedal 37 is adapted to actuate switches 3, 4e, 5, and 6. Switch 2'is normally disposed in its uppermost position as is switch 3, hence there IS through said switches a closed circuit intermediate the terminal 8 and the terminal 9 of the time switch.

The first effect of pressure upon the second footpedal 37 is to disconnect switches 5 and 6 whereby the circuits intermediate the main autotransformer are broken. Further movement downwardly of said foot, pedal disconnects switchd from the contacttherefor and puts in circuit with the alternating current line to the filament current transformer the auxiliary filament current control which control is used for the purpose of reducing the electromotive force impressed upon the cathode of the X-ray tube.

Concurrently with puttingin circuit the auxiliary. filament current control, the circuit intermediate the terminals 8 and 9 of 'the timer isbroken by the opening of the switch its upper contact. Further downward pressure causes the knife blade 3 to contact with the lower contact in association therewith, thereby creating'a circuit :to the circuit breaker and its on solenoid. By further prcssur thereis a new circuit established between the terminals, the source of electromotive force, and the on. solenoid of the circuit breaker. This connection renders inoperative the timing element in said time switch and causes the circuit breaker to remain in closed position so long as pressure is applied to such foot pedal.

' Release of the foot pedal 3! causes'the reestablishment of the circuit to the 0d solenoid: of the device so that electromotive force to the tube scut out and such change adapts,

the foot pedal controlling switches 1 and 2.

Throughthe agency of switches 1 and 2,]

the circuit to the solenoid so broken may be p reestablished. When so established, however the timing element is in operation and i the contact is for a predetermined period.

It should be-instantly perceivabie that the invention is such that the proper adjustments "of the main filament regulator and of the inn main autotransformer are maintained for the production of X-ray photographs while an operator is employing the tube with a lower voltage for the purpose of making fluoro scopic examinations.

lln use, the proper position for a radiographic exposure may be located by a fluoroscopic examination. This is done with switches 3, i, 5, and 6 down. W hen such po sition is found, the operator may release the pedal controlling said switches 3, a, 5, and 6, insert a cassette into a holder therefor forming a part of the apparatus (not shown) which is used in conjunction with the patient under examination.

The operator may then press the other foot pedal which controls switches 1 and 2 to ob tain a radiographic exposure.

The adaptability of the device is such that the operator may maintain two working adjustments at all times and thus obtain ex peditiously photographs while determining in advance whether the patient is so disposed as to provided for a good exposure.

in associanon with the circuit intermediate the main auto transformer and the pri mary of the high voltage transformer, is the usual hand operated X-ray switch which renders the apparatus usable independently of the circuit breaker. Such hand operated switch is marked 15.

In connection with the timer, there is also provided the regular timer foot switch 39, Figures 1 and 5, whereby the timer may be operated by the foot wholly independently of the device forming the subject matter of this invention, but only when the device here described is out of circuit.

Reference should again be had to Figure 5 which is a schematic layout of the wiring circuit employed in carrying out the invention, and a part lly diagrammatic repretation of the timer and circuit breaker.

The alternating current line at the upper left hand part of the figure supplies electromotive force to the circuit breaker, filament current transformer, and the timer.

Tn association with the circuits leading to these several elements, said alternating current line there is a hand switch 38, which has two operable positions, regular, which would be the upper position in Figure 5, and fiuorographic, which would be the lower position in Figure 5.

There is associated wi 'h the arrangement of circuits a circuit breaker 34, comprising an armature which is adapted to be moved to the right or left in Figure 5 by the sole noids at the right and left of the circuit breaker as illustrated, and marked on and off. Said circuit breaker at its top and bottom in the illustration has two bars, hereinafter called an upper connector and a lower connector bar, and these bars are adapted by the actuation of and with the armature to move relatively to a plurality of fiXed contacts. 7

In connection with such fixed contacts, it is proper to say that the upper left hand contact,'and hereinafter so designated, never is out of sliding engagement with the upper connector bar and that the lower right hand contact, so designated hereinafter, never disengages itself from the lower connector bar.

The cross bar of the circuit breaker .is a conductor insulated from the upper and lower connector members, just described, and moves with the armature which projects through the on and off solenoids. When the circuit breaker is in its right hand position, it is adapted to establish connections between the contacts forming a part ofthe circuit to the primary of the high voltage transformer.

The timer herein depicted schematically in part is of a well known commercial type, as has already been pointed out, which, however, must be slightly modified as to the circuits thereinto for use in this apparatus, but it is mechanically unchanged. Such timer 35 actuated by a constantly running motor, marked 40, which motor is geared to operate a disk 20 shown partly in the form of gearing and partly in dotted lines in the figure.

In association with such geared disk is a disk 21 in full lines, which carries an arm 22,

said disk 21 comprising one side of a clutch which is adapted to engagethe geared disk 20, the other side of the clutch, and be moved by the geared disk 20 whenever pushed into such engagement by a lever 28 pivoted at 24,.

actuated by the timer solenoid shown therebeneath and so identified. Any suitable means may be provided to cause the disk 21 to return to its normal position, that in which shown, whenever the disks 20 and 21 are separated. I

The timer itself comprises two plates, 25 and 26, one insulated from the other, but which, however, may only be moved in unison. The outer of said plates 25 is provided with a contact 27 and the other plate 26 with an adjacent contact 28, the two contacts 27 and 28 being adapted to be forced into impinging relation as an incident to contact 27 being struck by the arm 22 disposed upon the movable disk 21. Each of said plates 2'5 and 26 has terminal contacts 9 and 8, respectively, which are in sliding contact therewith at all times.

Within the timer are contacts 29 and 30 which are adapted to be kept in closed relation by arm 22 resting ther'eagainst, and during' all of the time which said arm 22 is not traveling toward the pair of contacts 27 and 28 upon the plates 25 and 26 just referred to. It will be noted that contact 29 is spring actuated to cause it to separate from contact 30 when theurging influence of arm 22 is removed.

Said plate 21 and the arm 22 actuated thereby, as already stated, is provided, with any suitable mechanism whereby they will return instantly to their normal position upon the timer solenoid being de-energized which allows the clutch to disengage, the force of the spring actuating disk 21 being necessarily greater than that in contact 29.

The circuits will be first described with the hand switch in its regular position with its blades in engagement with the upper contacts.

In such position, the device is intended only for radiographic exposures of the regular order and. of a time determined by the angular position of the two plates 25 and 26 in the timer, that is, how far the contacts 27 and 28 therein are removed from the normal position of the arm 22, for the arm 22 when actuated by the timer motor while the solenoid actuates the clutch (plates 20 and 21) moves at a constant and fixed speed toward the contacts 27 and 28. The radiographic exposure extends for that period of time dur ing which said arm 22 is traveling from its normal and illustrated position until it impinges the lowermost of contacts 27 and 28, whereby to cause said contacts to engage one another- The circuits are traced and are as follows:

A circuit from the upper left hand alternating current line to the motor of the timer, is used to energize said motor, the circuit being from the left hand conduit of the alter nating current line to the timer motor switch, to the motor, and from the motor to the right hand conduit of the alternating current line.

A circuit is from the left hand conduit of the alternating current line at the left and top of the figure to the centre of'the hand switch 38 and from the centre of said switch to the foot switch 39, from the foot switch back to the hand switch 38 and from thence to the right hand upper contact of the circuit breaker which is in contact with the upper contact bar only when the tube is being energized. In this described position, no current can flow to the X-ray tube, and the X-ray tube is inactive.

If the foot switch 39 is closed, then the circuit becomes, from the left hand conduit of the alternating current line to the center of the hand switch 38, to one contact in the foot switch 39, to the cross bar therein, the other contact in said switch, back to the left side of the hand switch 38, and from thence to the terminal S on the timer solenoid, through the said solenoid, terminal 11 and back to the right hand conduit of the alternating current line.

At the same time, the foot switch 39 closes a circuit from the left side of the hand switch 38 to terminal 10 and contact 30, which contact through contact 29 establishes one circuit to the left lower contact of the circuit breaker, from whence for an instant a circuit through the on solenoid of the breaker to the right hand alternating current conduit is established.

Another circuit from said line, as has been pointed out, energizes the filament transform- I er, and also the auxiliary filament regulator 42, when the latter is in circuit.

Another circuit from said alternating current line, as previously indicated, runs from the right hand conduit to the on solenoid of the circuit breaker 34, and from thence to the lowermost right hand contact therein, the lower connector bar, the lower left hand contact therein, to the timer, through the contacts 29 and 30, to the hand operated switch 38 so that in the course of the actuation of the circuit breaker there is at least an instant impression of current through the right hand on solenoid when the foot switch 39 is the upper right contact, the right side of the hand switchl38, through the foot switch 39, in open position, back to the hand switch 38 and to'the left hand conduit in the alternating current line. Thus, releasing the foot switch 3 39 with the hand switch38 in regular position instantly shuts off the electromotive force energizing the high tension transformer.

This would be true even if'the time switch was still in movement and hadnot reached the limit of its travel. Such a measure is necessary in order that the operator may terminate a radiographic exposure if spoiled, or the patient being nervous or fidgety approaches too closely to the high tension conduits.

The off circuit established in the manner just indicated is an instant circuit, for such circuit is broken as an incident to the armature in the circuit breaker moving to the left.

When the time switch shall have reached the limit of any setting, the breaking circuit is from the right hand conduit of the alternating current line to the off solenoid of the circuit breaker, the upper left contact foot-switch being closed. The cycle of operationswhich occur after said switch has been closed will now be further described. The instant that the timer is placed in operation, the on solenoid of the circuit breaker is energized, but immediately thereafter the arm 22 ceases to cause the contacts 29 and 30 to impinge, thus opening the circuit to the right hand solenoid of the circuit breaker so that the off solenoid or timer breaklng circuit may become effective. The cross bar of the circuit breaker remains in contact with the main contacts therein completil'ig and maintaining the circuit to the high ten- S1011 transformer until the off solenoid is energized to break such circuit to the high tension transformer.

Such circuit is broken when the foot switch is released or the arm 22 impinges contact 27 to force the latter against contact 28 when circuits to the off solenoid are established. These circuits have already been described. The circuit is an instantaneous one for the movement of the armature of the circuit breaker to the left opens both. of said circuits.

Thus the timer acts first to establish a closed circuit to the high tension transformer by moving the cross member in the circuit breaker to the right. The impression of the current upon the on solenoid to accomplish this is instant, and the impression of current upon said solenoid must be instantly terminated not to interfere with the timer or foot switch. Time exposures of 1/20 or less of a second are sometimes desired.

By changing the position of the hand switch from regular to fiuorographic, the foot switch 39 becomes inoperative, and the device forming the subject matter of this application for Letters Patent, in part, be comes a part of the circuit. A

When the fluorographic unit is in circuit and when switches l and 2 are in normal position the circuit is from the left hand conduit of the alternating current line, to the hand switch, from the hand switch to switch 3, from said switch to switch 2, which is normally in its uppermost position, to the hand switch, and from the hand switch to the right upper circuit breaker contact. The current cannot go beyond this point.

l/V hen switches 1 and 2 are pressed downwardly, the circuits then become the left hand conduit of the alternating current line to the hand switch 38, to switch 3 and from its upper contact to switch 2, which now engages its lower contact, and from thence to switch 1, whereby the solenoid is brought into operation, the line back to source of power being from terminal 11 to the right hand conduit. The circuit from switch 1 continues to the hand switch 38 and from thence to contact 80, to contact 29, to the circuit breaker and to the right hand solenoid therein, and from thence to the other side or right hand conduit of the alternating current line. It is to be noted that the time of contact in switches 1 and 2 is dififerent, the contact with 2 being established after switch 1 is closed. Thls provides for the positiveactuation of the circuit breaker at the instant that the solenoid is rendered operative, the time required for the timer solenoid to operate the clutch in the timer (plates 20 and 21) being sufficient to permit the circuit breaker to be thrown to on before the contacts 29 and 30 are separated.

The operation of the device is now the same as if the foot switch were employed, the circuit being different, however, as has been indicated, so as to bring into convenient inlating the voltage impressed upon the high tension transformer, a circuit intermediate said high tension transformer and said auto transformer and adapted to be closed by a circuit breaker, an additional auto-transformer for regulating the voltage impressed upon said high tension transformer and adapted to displace said main auto transformer,switch means for connecting and disconnecting said additional auto-transformer to said high tension transformer, a filament current transformer for said tube, a filament current regulator governing the electromotive force impressed upon said filament current transformer, an additional filament current control means for said filament current transformer, a circuit for connecting said filament current'regulator and said additional filament current control means, switch means being unitary with said first named switch means for controlling said filamentary circuit, a timer adapted to determine the time during which high tension current may be impressed upon said X-ray tube, a circuit breaker in combination with said timer and adapted. to close said first named circuit,

switch means for said timer whereby the timing element thereof is rendered operable or inoperable relatively to said circuit breaker, and means for selectively actuating said first named switch means to produce a relatively powerful or weaker X-light for a predetermined period of time.

JULIUS B. VVANTZ. 

